Chapter 29
0600, 9 November 2004
Nazal District
Fallujah, Iraq
After his morning brief, Corporal Nelson ordered the STA team to assume the counter-sniper mission for lead elements of Kilo Company. A sniper had shot a BCT-9 soldier the day before, and the commanding officer expressed concern that enemy snipers might infiltrate the Kilo area of operation. Case was tired and sore but also felt excited. The anti-sniper mission represented the primary mission of the STA team, something the team had studied and frequently practiced at Camp Pendleton, California.
Kilo Company headed south towards Phase Line Yellow, and the STA team followed in trace. After six blocks, Nelson motioned for the STA team to enter one of the houses. Doctrine required the STA team to clear the entire house before
